Campbell said he drives the van whenever he doesn’t ride his bicycle, which added up to less than 4,000 miles last year.

“Over the years, kids have asked if they could paint the van,” Campbell said. “This year, I thought why not let the kids have fun painting my van while we raise money for the Sunshine Fund.”

The Sunshine Fund, as the students and teachers refer to it, is actually the Savannah Hintze Scholarship Fund that was established to honor the life and spirit of Savannah.

Campbell partnered with the Peace Club to host the fundraiser, which lasted throughout the day as students and teachers were on break — a faculty member was always on hand to supervise. The fundraiser will continue throughout Spirit Week, before and after school and during lunch.

Students and teachers paid $1 to spray paint words, symbols and doodles on Campbell’s van for one minute. Many of the students chose to honor Savannah in some way when it was their turn.

Senior Kim Santillan told Savannah’s mother, Ingrid, who was present for much of the time, that she painted Savannah’s initials and a peace sign.

“It was a fun activity and I know that she’s (Savannah) smiling right now, looking down at everyone,” Santillan said. “It was a great way to honor her memory.”

Savannah was an active member of the Peace Club, which stands for People Encouraging Active Change and Exchange. Sponsor Paul Gray said Savannah was a special and kind of funky kid who was not only well liked and loved by the students, but by the teachers as well.

He added that she was all smiles and sunshine, hence the nickname the Smile Fund.

Ingrid said the event Tuesday was a beautiful tribute that honored her daughter and that each time there is an event, or someone shares a story about Savannah, her heart is filled again.

“I think this is just awesome,” Ingrid said of the event. “Savannah was like a hippie, gypsy kind of girl. She was positive every day and she really believed in peace, love and happiness around the world. I knew she was well loved by people, but I didn’t know the impact until we lost her.

“She touched so many lives of all ages. I just want to thank the entire community for the love and support they’ve shown my family. I can’t express in words what the kind gestures of so many have meant to us.”

Friend and cousin, RHS senior Kayla Ford, said the graffiti art event enabled students to express themselves while showing support for Savannah and her family.

Ford said that her cousin never fully realized the positive impact she had on her life.

“She was an inspiration to me,” Kayla said of Savannah. “My scholarship essay was inspired by her.”

Kayla said she painted a peace sign on the van in honor of Savannah.

The scholarship fund was created to honor Savannah, who died on April 25, 2011, in a car accident one month shy of graduating with honors, and who always dreamed of attending college.

Ingrid said, through the scholarship fund, Savannah’s memory would not only continue to thrive, but her daughter would in effect help generations of Russellville graduates pursue their dream of obtaining higher education.

The Scholarship Fund needs to reach $25,000 to be endowed, or continue to be a perpetual gift in the community. A $500 scholarship was awarded this past May, and the committee hopes to award a full scholarship in the future when the fund reaches the full $25,000.

RHS teacher Amber Casey said the scholarship will be awarded annually to a RHS student who exemplifies the same spirit Savannah had.

“The committee will look at students who shared Savannah’s characteristics and also have a financial need,” Casey said. “Savannah was caring, included all people and gave of herself to others. Those are the qualities the recipient will need to have.”

For more information about the fund or to contribute, call 964-0895 or 968-0400. Donations can be mailed to ATU Foundation, 8820 Tech Lane, Russellville, AR 72801.